Fla. Department of Corrections
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Rick Scott has rescheduled the execution of a mass killer for Oct. 23 after he lost another appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.
Scott acted shortly after the justices Wednesday upheld a lower court decision that John Errol Ferguson is competent to be executed.
Ferguson is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court and seeking a stay of execution there.
The 64-year-old death row inmate was convicted of killing eight people in South Florida. Six victims died in a drug related, execution-style mass killing in Carol City in 1977. Two Hialeah teenagers were slain on their way to a church meeting in 1978.
The state justices upheld findings by Scott and trial judge that Ferguson, although mentally ill, is legally competent because he understands the implications of being executed.
Associated Press